Echinacea plant named ‘Balevoeen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balevoeen’, characterized by its single-type, purplish-pink colored inflorescences that first open a reddish-orange color and darken to a purplish-red color with age, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balevoeen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea x hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balevoeen’.

The new Echinacea cultivar is a novel seedling selection from ‘CheyenneSpirit’, protected under a breeding method claim in U.S. Pat. No.7,982,110, a segregating mix characterized by single-type inflorescenceshaving a range of flower colors that include shades of red, orange,purple, scarlet, cream, yellow and white, medium green-colored foliage,and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered as a whole plant and selected during June 2014 in acontrolled environment in Dayton, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagationsince April 2015 in Dayton, Oreg. has demonstrated that the new cultivarreproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balevoeen’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, purplish-pink colored inflorescences that first        open a reddish-orange color and darken to a purplish-red color        with age;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;    -   3. Low growth vigor; and    -   4. Compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily inhaving a novel combination of characteristics including ray floretcolor, ray floret size, and plant habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is SOMBRERO Hot Coral ‘Balsomcor’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,097. However, in side by side comparisons, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomcor’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have more main stems per plant        than plants of ‘Balsomcor’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a fully open ray floret color        that is more purplish-pink colored than the reddish-orange        colored ray florets of plants of ‘Balsomcor’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer ray florets per        inflorescence than plants of ‘Balsomcor’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balevoeen’. The plants were approximately seven months old and grownoutdoors in Dayton, Oreg. in one-gallon containers.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balevoeen’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balevoeen’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in August 2018 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximatelyseven-month old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grownutilizing a soilless growth medium under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. inone-gallon containers in a glass-covered greenhouse for approximatelyfive months. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. Nosupplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balevoeen’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Parent.—‘Cheyenne Spirit’, protected under breeding method            claim of U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at            18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately            30 days at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm            container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            low growth vigor, compact-upright.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to            −26° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 30.0 cm. Width: Approximately 26.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow            from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately            6.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:            Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            25.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short strigose hairs. Color of young stems: 146C. Color            of mature stems: 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire to            shallowly serrate, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 8.0 cm to 10.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Dull, moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs.            Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to NN137A with venation of 147C. Color of            lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B            with venation of 147D.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm to            5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely            covered with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and            lower surfaces: 147D occasionally tinted with 187A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balevoeen’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions blooming from late spring through            late summer and with limited flowering under short winter            days in a greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:            Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 7. Height:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short strigose hairs. Color: 146B.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Shape: Flattened            globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color:            Outer ray florets of 150D; bud center of 143A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 14.            Arrangement: In a single whorl, some slightly imbricate.            Aspect: Perpendicular to disc, subtending slightly with age.            Shape: Elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate to notched. Base:            Attenuate. Length: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture of lower surface:            Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper            surface when first open: 34B to 34C. Color of lower surface            when first open: 155D with an underlay of 34B and 144A at            apex. Color of upper surface when fully open: 70C, with age            darkening to 70A to 70B. Color of lower surface when fully            open: 155D with an underlay of 70C and 144B at apex.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm. Quantity            per inflorescence: Approximately 150. Arrangement: Spirally            arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin            of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused            into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or            inner surface when first and fully open: 146C with an            overlay of 187A on upper third. Color of lower or outer            surface when first and fully open: 146C with an overlay of            187A on upper third that is heaviest on margins, and base of            155D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm. Color: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 30.            Arrangement: In whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff. Shape:            Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards the            peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately            2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Sparsely            pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface:            137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.        -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:            Approximately 150. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:            Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of 22A            with 187A at tip, mid-section of 144A with 137A, and base of            155D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther            color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: 17B. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.            Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately            1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid, curled. Stigma length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: N186A. Style length:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145D with 187A near            stigma. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color:            155D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plantnamed ‘Balevoeen’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.